Graffiti attack racially motivated, says councilllor

Geoff Egan
Journalist
Geoff has been working for the QT since August 2011 covering Ipswich’s rural areas. He started working for APN in January 2010 with the Chinchilla News in western Queensland after growing up on a grain farm. Geoff spends his time out of work watching far too much sport following the Reds, the Broncos and various American teams.

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A TAGGING spree in Limestone Park and Eastern Heights, described as "racially motivated", is set to cost more than $10,000 to repair.

A group of taggers sprayed racists and sexist comments as well as pictures of male genitals and naked women on the Ipswich PCYC skate bowl, the Limestone Park netball courts and cricket clubhouse as well as on Griffith Rd and even a number of privately-owned houses and cars in the area.

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Council clean-up crews were on the scene yesterday cleaning the areas hit in the late hours of Monday night.

Ipswich councillor Andrew Antoniolli said he believed the tags was racially motivated and possibly connected to ongoing racial tension in Logan.

"Some of this may be linked to the problems in Logan," he said.

"Some of it is definitely aimed at particular groups, and make some very racist remarks and thumbs its nose at authority.

Some of it is definitely aimed at particular groups, and make some very racist remarks and thumbs its nose at authority

"Some of the words and images are highly, highly offensive."

Despite the offence caused, Cr Antoniolli said the vandals' tags were "juvenile".

"This was obviously done by a group of teenagers; if it's meant to be funny it's very juvenile."

Cr Antoniolli said he and Cr Charlie Pisasale had inspected the affected sites and spoken to residents whose property had been attacked.

"Charlie and I are outraged at the damage that's been done and the amount this is going to cost the public purse," he said.

Charlie and I are outraged at the damage that's been done and the amount this is going to cost the public purse.

He said he expected council repairs to cost more than $5000 with private repairs to cars and houses expected to at least double the repair bill. Cr Antoniolli said the tagging was pure vandalism and he was calling out for any residents of the area who may have seen anything to report it.

"We think it happened between 10am and 1pm (on Monday night)," he said. "There was definitely a group, at least more than two. Surely someone must have seen something around at that time."